U.S. patent application number 12/031196 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-21 for telephone number assignment method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Eugene Daly. Invention is credited to Eugene Daly.
Application Number | 20080198987 12/031196 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39706671 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080198987 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Daly; Eugene |
August 21, 2008 |
TELEPHONE NUMBER ASSIGNMENT METHOD
Abstract
Various example embodiments are described. According to one
example, a method may include maintaining a database of a plurality
of direct inward dial telephone numbers, including a subset of the
direct inward dial telephone numbers which are available for
assignment; receiving, through a website, an application from a
customer for an alias telephone number to be associated with a
customer telephone number; processing the application, the
processing including assigning to the customer an alias telephone
number selected from the subset of available telephone numbers
which are available for assignment and associating the alias number
with the customer telephone number; and receiving a telephone call
from a third party to the alias telephone number and routing the
telephone call from the alias telephone number to the customer
telephone number.
Inventors: |
Daly; Eugene; (Alamo,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRAKE HUGHES BELLERMANN LLP
c/o INTELLEVATE, P.O. BOX 52050
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Assignee: |
Daly; Eugene
Alamo
CA
|
Family ID: |
39706671 |
Appl. No.: |
12/031196 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60890743 |
Feb 20, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/114.05 ;
379/211.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04Q 2213/13339
20130101; H04Q 2213/13097 20130101; H04Q 3/005 20130101; H04M 3/229
20130101; H04Q 2213/13109 20130101; H04Q 2213/13282 20130101; H04Q
2213/13102 20130101; H04M 3/54 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/114.05 ;
379/211.01 |
International
Class: |
H04M 15/00 20060101
H04M015/00; H04M 3/54 20060101 H04M003/54 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: maintaining a database of a plurality of
direct inward dial telephone numbers, including a subset of the
direct inward dial telephone numbers which are available for
assignment; receiving, through a website, an application from a
customer for an alias telephone number to be associated with a
customer telephone number; processing the application, the
processing including assigning to the customer an alias telephone
number selected from the subset of available telephone numbers
which are available for assignment and associating the alias number
with the customer telephone number; and receiving a telephone call
from a third party to the alias telephone number and routing the
telephone call from the alias telephone number to the customer
telephone number.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of available telephone
numbers includes a subset of available direct inward dial telephone
numbers.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein: receiving the application
includes receiving payment information from the customer; and
processing the application includes processing the payment
information.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein: receiving the application
includes receiving credit card information from the user; and
processing the application includes processing the credit card
information.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the application and
processing the application are both performed during a persistent
connection between a server which maintains the website and an
internet service provider of the customer.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning to the customer the
alias telephone number includes sending an electronic message to
the customer, the electronic message including the alias telephone
number.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning to the customer the
alias telephone number includes displaying the alias telephone
number on the website.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein: routing the telephone call
includes receiving a signal from the customer; and method further
includes blocking a subsequent telephone call to the alias
telephone number from the unknown third party based on the
receiving the signal.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein routing the telephone call to the
customer telephone number includes stripping an automatic number
identification of the unknown third party from the telephone
call.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising: logging a time of the
telephone call which was received from the unknown third party;
presenting the time of the telephone call to the customer on the
website; and blocking a subsequent call to the alias telephone
number from the unknown third party based on input received from
the customer via the website.
11. The method of claim 1, further including displaying the
plurality of direct inward dial telephone numbers on the
website.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein: receiving the application
includes receiving the application from the customer, the
application including a custom automatic identification number; and
routing the telephone call from the alias telephone number to the
customer telephone number includes replacing an automatic number
identification with the custom automatic identification number.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed without
human intervention.
14. A method comprising: maintaining a database of a plurality of
telephone numbers, including a subset of the direct inward dial
telephone numbers which are available for assignment; receiving,
via a website, an application from a customer to purchase use of an
alias telephone number, the application including a customer
telephone number, a geographical area, and a customer number to be
associated with the alias number; processing the application to
purchase use of the alias telephone number, the processing
including: selecting the alias telephone number from the subset of
direct inward dial telephone numbers available for assignment based
on the geographical area; and assigning the alias telephone number
to the customer and associating the alias number with the customer
number; and receiving a telephone call from a third party to the
alias telephone number and routing the telephone call from the
alias telephone number to the customer telephone number.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the subset of telephone numbers
includes a subset of direct inward dial telephone numbers.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the application and
processing the application are both performed during a single
session in which the customer is logged onto the website.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the application and
processing the application are both performed during a persistent
connection between a server which maintains the website and an
internet service provider of the customer.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein: receiving the application
includes receiving payment information from the customer; and
processing the application includes simultaneously confirming
availability of the alias telephone number corresponding to the
geographical area and confirming the payment information with a
third party vendor.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein: receiving the application
includes receiving the application from the customer, the
application including a custom automatic identification number; and
routing the telephone call from the alias telephone number to the
customer telephone number includes replacing an automatic number
identification with the custom automatic identification number.
20. The method of claim 14, wherein the method is performed without
human intervention.
21. An apparatus configured to: maintain a database of the
plurality of telephone numbers, including a subset of the direct
inward dial telephone numbers which are available for assignment;
receive, through a website, an application from a customer for an
alias telephone number, the application including a customer
telephone number; process the application, the processing including
assigning to the customer the alias telephone number selected from
the subset of available telephone numbers which were ready for
assignment; and receive a telephone call from an unknown third
party to the alias telephone number and route the telephone call
from the alias telephone number to the customer telephone
number.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the plurality of telephone
numbers includes a plurality of direct inward dial telephone
numbers.
23. A method comprising: maintaining a database of a plurality of
telephone numbers, including a subset of the direct inward dial
telephone numbers which are available for assignment; receiving an
application from a customer for an alias telephone number to be
associated with a customer telephone number; processing the
application, the processing including assigning to the customer an
alias telephone number selected from the subset of available direct
inward dial telephone numbers which are available for assignment
and associating the alias number with the customer telephone
number; and receiving a telephone call from a third party to the
alias telephone number through a public switched telephone network
and routing the telephone call from the alias telephone number to
the customer telephone number.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the plurality of telephone
numbers includes a plurality of direct inward dial telephone
numbers.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/890,743, filed on Feb. 20,
2007, entitled, "Telephone Number Assignment Method," the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This description relates to assigning telephone numbers.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Persons providing contact information to others may not wish
to give their true telephone number. For example, persons who meet
others through dating websites may desire to allow temporary
contact which may be revoked at a later time. In another example,
businesses may desire to give potential customers a telephone
number which is local to the prospective customers when the
business is actually located in a different geographical area.
SUMMARY
[0004] According to one general aspect, a method may include
maintaining a database of a plurality of direct inward dial
telephone numbers, including a subset of the direct inward dial
telephone numbers which are available for assignment; receiving,
through a website, an application from a customer for an alias
telephone number to be associated with a customer telephone number;
processing the application, the processing including assigning to
the customer an alias telephone number selected from the subset of
available telephone numbers which are available for assignment and
associating the alias number with the customer telephone number;
and receiving a telephone call from a third party to the alias
telephone number and routing the telephone call from the alias
telephone number to the customer telephone number.
[0005] According to another general aspect, a method may include
maintaining a database of a plurality of telephone numbers,
including a subset of the direct inward dial telephone numbers
which are available for assignment; receiving, via a website, an
application from a customer to purchase use of an alias telephone
number, the application including a customer telephone number, a
geographical area, and a customer number to be associated with the
alias number; processing the application to purchase use of the
alias telephone number, the processing including: selecting the
alias telephone number from the subset of direct inward dial
telephone numbers available for assignment based on the
geographical area, and assigning the alias telephone number to the
customer and associating the alias number with the customer number;
and receiving a telephone call from a third party to the alias
telephone number and routing the telephone call from the alias
telephone number to the customer telephone number.
[0006] According to another general aspect, an apparatus may be
configured to maintain a database of the plurality of telephone
numbers, including a subset of the direct inward dial telephone
numbers which are available for assignment; receive, through a
website, an application from a customer for an alias telephone
number, the application including a customer telephone number;
process the application, the processing including assigning to the
customer the alias telephone number selected from the subset of
available telephone numbers which were ready for assignment; and
receive a telephone call from an unknown third party to the alias
telephone number and route the telephone call from the alias
telephone number to the customer telephone number.
[0007] According to another general aspect, a method may include
maintaining a database of a plurality of telephone numbers,
including a subset of the direct inward dial telephone numbers
which are available for assignment; receiving an application from a
customer for an alias telephone number to be associated with a
customer telephone number; processing the application, the
processing including assigning to the customer an alias telephone
number selected from the subset of available direct inward dial
telephone numbers which are available for assignment and
associating the alias number with the customer telephone number;
and receiving a telephone call from a third party to the alias
telephone number through a public switched telephone network and
routing the telephone call from the alias telephone number to the
customer telephone number.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for assigning an alias
telephone number to a customer, according to an example
embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing routing voice data transmissions
from the alias telephone number to a customer telephone number,
according to an example embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method according to an example
embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method according to another
example embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for assigning an alias
telephone number to a customer, according to an example embodiment.
In an example embodiment, a plurality of direct inward dial
telephone numbers 102 may be maintained. A service provider 103 may
maintain the ability to use these direct inward dial telephone
numbers 102 as needed. The service provider 103 may receive
telephone calls which were placed to any of the direct inward dial
telephone numbers 102, and may recognize which telephone number 102
was the intended recipient of the telephone call.
[0013] The service provider 103 may maintain the ability to use the
direct inward dial telephone numbers 102 by purchasing the direct
inward dial telephone numbers 102 from a local exchange carrier
105, such as an Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) or a
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC), for example, or may
provide the direct inward dial telephone numbers 102 by software or
may provide the ability to dial a user by name. In one example
embodiment, the service provider 103 may maintain an
interconnection agreement with an ILEC. Examples of ILECs in the
United States with which the service provider 103 may maintain an
interconnection agreement may include Verizon, SBC, Bell South, or
Qwest. These are merely examples. For example, the service provider
103 may pay telephone service fees to the ILEC in exchange for the
ability to receive telephone calls made to the direct inward dial
telephone numbers 102.
[0014] In another example, the service provider 103 may purchase
the direct inward dial telephone numbers 102 from a CLEC. Examples
of CLECs from which the service provider 103 may purchase the
direct inward dial telephone numbers 102 include ZTel, PacWest
Telecom, US LEC, and Icon Telecom. In yet another example, the
service provider 103 may pay the telephone service fees to a
cellular telephone service provider 103, such as, for example,
Sprint, Cingular, or Verizon, in exchange for the ability to
receive telephone calls made to the direct inward dial telephone
numbers 102.
[0015] The direct inward dial telephone numbers 102 may be
maintained by a database 104. The database 104 may, for example,
sort the direct inward dial telephone numbers 102 according to
availability for assignment. In this example, the database 102 may
include a subset 106 of the direct inward dial telephone numbers
102 which are available for assignment. The database 104 and the
subset 106 may, for example, be maintained by a server 108. In this
example, the server 108 may maintain the database 104 of the
plurality of direct inward dial telephone numbers 102, including
the subset 106 of direct inward dial telephone numbers 102 which
are available for assignment.
[0016] In an example embodiment, a website 110 may be maintained.
The website 110 may be maintained, for example, by the server 108.
In an example embodiment, the website 110 may be configured to
allow a customer 112 to purchase use of one of the direct inward
dial telephone numbers 102. The use may be purchased for a
specified period of time, such as one month, or three months, as
examples. The website 110 and/or server 108 may be configured to
assign the telephone number 102 to the customer 112 "on the fly,"
such as during a single session while the customer 112 is logged
onto the website 110. The database may also be maintained by the
user or by the administrator. In an example embodiment, the
customer may purchase use of the telephone number 102, and the
server 108 may assign the telephone number 102 to the customer 112,
both during a persistent connection between the server 108 and an
internet service provider (not shown) of the customer 112.
[0017] In an example embodiment, the customer 112 may send an
application 114 to the server 108 via the website 110. The website
110 is but one example of an interface with the customer 112.
Another example embodiment may utilize a call center (not shown).
In this example, the customer 112 may place a telephone call to the
call center, which may be maintained by the service provider 103.
The customer 112 may provide the application 114 to the service
provider 103 by orally providing information to a call service
employee of the service provider 103 during the telephone call, and
the service provider 103 may receive the application 114 by
receiving the 103 information during the telephone call through the
call service employee of the service provider. The service provider
103 may assign the telephone number 102 to the customer 112 by the
call service employee of the service provider 103 orally informing
the customer 112 of the telephone number 102 during the telephone
call. In other examples, the service provider 103 may assign the
telephone number 102 to the customer 112 by sending an electronic
message or email to the customer 112, or by having the call service
employee give the customer a telephone number to call and receive
the telephone number 102.
[0018] In another example, the customer 112 may sending the service
provider 103 an electronic message or email which includes the
application 114, which may be received by the service provider 103.
The service provider 103 may assign the telephone number 102 to the
customer 112 by sending the customer an electronic message or email
which includes the telephone number.
[0019] In this example, the server 108 may receive the application
114 via or through the website 110. The application 114 may include
a customer telephone number 116. The customer telephone number 116
may include a standard ten-digit telephone number, including an
area code. The customer telephone number 116 may include any
telephone number at which the customer 112 may receive any
telephone call. The customer telephone number 116 may be stored in
the database 104, in an example embodiment.
[0020] The application 114 may also include payment information or
financial information, such as credit card information; in this
example, receiving the application 114 (such as by the server 108)
may include receiving payment information or financial information
such as credit card information. In an example embodiment in which
the customer 112 desires to show a local presence, the application
114 may also include geographical information, such as a city or
state or area code.
[0021] The application 114 may be processed, such as by the server
108, according to an example embodiment. Processing the application
114 may include selecting a direct inward dial telephone number 102
from the subset 106 of available direct inward dial telephone
numbers 102 and assigning the selected telephone number 102 to the
customer 112 as an alias telephone number 118. The alias telephone
number 118 may include a ten-digit number, including an area code,
for example. The alias telephone number 118 may be selected from
the subset 106 of available telephone numbers 102 by random
assignment, according to an example embodiment.
[0022] In an example embodiment, the server 108 may process the
application 114 by, for example, assigning to the customer 112 the
alias telephone number 118 selected from the subset 106 of
available direct inward dial telephone numbers 102 which are ready
for assignment. In another example embodiment, the server 108 may
confirm the availability of a direct inward dial telephone number
102 corresponding to the geographical information in the
application 114, and assign the customer 112 an alias telephone
number 118 corresponding to the geographical information.
[0023] The server 108 may also receive the payment or financial
information such as credit card information, and may process the
application 114 by processing the payment or financial information
such as credit card information. The server 108 may process the
payment or financial information such as credit card information by
confirming the payment or financial information such as credit card
information with a third party vendor (not shown). In an example
embodiment, the server 108 may simultaneously confirm availability
of the alias telephone number 118, such as an alias telephone
number 118 corresponding to a geographical area, and confirm the
payment or financial information such as credit card information
with the third party vendor.
[0024] The alias telephone number 118 may be assigned to the
customer 112 by, for example, sending an electronic message or
email to the customer 112. The electronic message or email may
include the alias telephone number 118. In another example
embodiment, the alias telephone number 118 may be displayed to the
customer 112 on the website 110. This processing of the application
114 may be performed without human intervention, for example.
[0025] In an example embodiment, the server 108 may receive the
application 114 and process the application 114 during a single
session in which the customer 112 is logged onto the website 110,
or during a persistent connection between the server 108 and an
internet service provider of the customer 112. This may allow the
customer 112 to receive the alias telephone number 118 quickly
while logged onto the website 110.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing routing voice data transmissions
from the alias telephone number 118 to a customer telephone number
116, according to an example embodiment. The voice data
transmissions may include, for example, telephone calls or calls to
headset-equipped computers which are routed according to ten-digit
numbers with area codes, such as, for example, 301-555-1212. In an
example embodiment, the customer 112 may provide the alias
telephone number 118 to an unknown third party 202, so that the
customer 112 and the unknown third party 202 may communicate by
telephone (where a telephone can be, for example, any computing
device that includes voice transmission and reception capability,
including a landline telephone, a wireless telephone, a cellular
telephone, a computer equipped with voice transmission/reception
capability, etc.) using the telephone number 118. The "unknown
third party" 202 may be a person who has not established a
relationship with the server 108 or any entity related to the
server 108, and who may not be recognized in any database
accessible by the server 108 or the service provider 103. Thus, the
customer 112 may provide the alias telephone number 118 to anyone,
including an unknown third party 202 who has not submitted an
application 114 to the server 108.
[0027] The unknown third party 202 may call the alias telephone
number 118. The alias telephone number 118 may be managed by a
telephone network 204, such as a public switched telephone network,
a cellular telephone network, or a Voice Over Internet Protocol
network. The telephone network 204 may be an entity which is
unrelated to the service provider 103 or the server 108. The
telephone network 204 may route the telephone call to the server
108 as a direct inward dial telephone call. In addition to the
voice data, the telephone call routed from the telephone network
204 to the server 108 may include the alias telephone number
118.
[0028] The server 108 may receive the telephone call from the
unknown third party 202 through the telephone network 204 as a
direct inward dial telephone call. The server 108 may receive the
voice data and the alias telephone number 118, and may recognize a
correspondence between the alias telephone number 118 and the
customer telephone number 116. The server 108 may recognize the
correspondence between the alias telephone number 118 and the
customer telephone number 116 by, for example, consulting the
database 104. The server 108 may recognize the correspondence
between the alias telephone number 118 and the customer telephone
number 116 without checking the origin of the telephone call from
the unknown third party 202. Thus, the server 108 may recognize the
correspondence between the alias telephone number 118 and the
customer telephone number 116 regardless of the identity of the
unknown third party 202.
[0029] The server 108 may route the telephone call from the unknown
third party 202 to the customer telephone number 116, allowing the
customer 112 to answer the telephone call with a telephone linked
to his normal telephone. The server 108 may, for example route the
telephone call to the customer telephone number 116 using Voice
Over Internet Protocol and sending the telephone call over the
Internet 206, according to an example embodiment. The direct inward
dial telephone numbers 102 of the public switched telephone network
may have been obtained by the service provider 103, and may be
assigned to a gateway in the server 108. The gateway may route
calls incoming from the telephone network 204 across the Internet
206 to the customer telephone number 116.
[0030] According to another example embodiment, the telephone call
may be routed from the alias telephone number 118 to the customer
telephone number 116 by placing a call forwarding request with the
provider of the telephone network 204. However, the present
disclosure is not limited to these example embodiments.
[0031] The server 108 may strip automatic number identification
from the telephone call to the customer 112. Automatic number
identification is a process which may enable a person receiving a
telephone call to see the telephone number and/or other identifying
information about the caller displayed on the receiving telephone
or other electronic device. In the example embodiment in which the
automatic number identification may be stripped from the telephone
call to the customer 112, the customer 112 may not know the
identity or telephone number of the unknown third party 202. This
may give the unknown third party 202 confidence that if he or she
calls the customer 112, the customer 112 may not learn the unknown
third party's 202 contact information (such as telephone number),
and the unknown third party 202 may choose to discontinue the
relationship with the customer 112 without the customer 112 calling
the unknown third party 202 back. In an example embodiment, the
server 108 may display the direct inward dial telephone numbers 102
on the website 110, allowing the unknown third party 202 to check
the website 110 and confirm that the alias number 202 is a direct
inward dial telephone number 102 in the database 104 which will
have automatic number identification stripped from the telephone
call.
[0032] In another example embodiment, the server 108 may manipulate
the automatic number identification upon request by the customer
112. In routing the telephone call from the alias telephone number
118 to the customer telephone number 116, the server 108 may, for
example, replace the automatic number identification with the
custom automatic identification number. For example, the customer
112 may choose a custom automatic call identification, such as an
alphanumeric string of characters, or simply an alphabetical string
of characters, to replace the automatic number identification. The
customer 112 may thereby be informed that an incoming telephone
call was a call to the alias telephone number 118 and has been
routed by the server 108. In an example embodiment, the custom
automatic call identification may have been included in the
application 114, and the server 108 may have received the
application 114 including the custom automatic identification
number. Thus, when the customer receives a call that was originally
placed to the alias number 118 and then rerouted to the customer's
number 112, the custom automatic call identification may be
displayed to the user instead of the phone number of the caller 202
as is displayed by typical caller ID systems. In this manner, if
the customer is using the alias number 118 to receive calls from
members of a dating service, the custom automatic call
identification may cause, for example, "Potential Date" to be
displayed to the customer 112 when the call is received.
[0033] In an example embodiment in which the customer 112 has
selected a plurality of alias telephone numbers 118, each
corresponding to a different geographical area, the custom
automatic call identification may inform the customer 112 of the
geographic location to which the unknown third party 202 believed
that the telephone call was directed. Thus, if the customer is
using the alias number 118 to receive calls from clients, buyers,
or customers in a particular location (e.g., New York), the custom
automatic call identification may cause, for example, "Potential
New York Buyer" to be displayed to the customer 112 when the call
is received. In another example embodiment, the customer 112 may
select a plurality of telephone numbers 118, each corresponding to
a different product or service that the customer 112 is selling. In
this example, the custom automatic call identification may inform
the customer 112 of which product or service that the unknown third
party 202 is calling for.
[0034] The server 108 may allow the customer 112 to block future
calls from the unknown third party 202 (i.e., from the telephone
number used by the unknown third party 202 during the telephone
call). For example, the customer 112 may send a signal to the
server 108, such as by pressing "*77" during the telephone call,
for example, and the server 108 may receive the signal from the
customer 112. The server 108 may thereafter block a subsequent
telephone call to the alias telephone number 118 from the unknown
third party 202, based on the receiving the signal. This may be
advantageous, for example, when the customer 112 uses the alias
telephone number 118 to receive calls placed by members of a dating
service.
[0035] In another example, the server 108 may log a time of the
telephone call from the unknown third party 202 to the alias
telephone number 118. The server 108 may present or display a time
of the telephone call, and any other telephone calls, to the
customer 112 on the website 110. The customer 112 may provide input
to the server 108 via the website 110, such as an instruction to
block any future calls to the alias telephone number 118 from the
unknown third party 202. The server 108 may block one or any
subsequent calls to the alias telephone number 118 from the unknown
third party 202 based on the input from the customer 112 via the
website 110. The customer 112 may thereby choose not to receive
further calls from the unknown third party 202.
[0036] In an example embodiment, the above functions or processes
(except for those performed by the customer 112 or the unknown
third party 202) may be performed by an electronic device, such as
the server 108. In this example, these functions or processes may
be performed without human intervention.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method 300 according to an
example embodiment. A database 104 may be maintained of the
plurality of direct inward dial telephone numbers 102, including a
subset 106 of the direct inward dial telephone numbers 102 which
are available for assignment (304). The direct inward dial
telephone numbers 102 may be maintained, for example, by purchasing
the direct inward dial telephone numbers 102 from the local
exchange carrier 105.
[0038] This example may also include receiving an application 114
from a customer 112 for an alias telephone number 118. The
application 114 may be received, for example, through a website
110. The application 114 may include a customer telephone number
116 (306). The application 114 may be processed, and the processing
may include assigning the alias telephone number 118 to the
customer. The alias telephone number 118 may be selected from the
subset 106 of available direct inward dial telephone numbers 102
which were available for assignment (308).
[0039] The method 300 of this example may also include receiving a
telephone call from an unknown third party 202 to the alias
telephone number 118 and routing the telephone call from the alias
telephone number 118 to the customer telephone number 116 (310). In
an example embodiment, the method 300 may be performed without
human intervention, such as by a server 108.
[0040] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method 400 according to
another example embodiment. A database 104 of the plurality of
direct inward dial telephone numbers 102 may be maintained. The
database 104 may include a subset 106 of the direct inward dial
telephone numbers 102 which are available for assignment (404). The
direct inward dial telephone numbers 102 may be maintained, for
example, by purchasing the direct inward dial telephone numbers 102
from the local exchange carrier 105.
[0041] An application 114 to purchase use of an alias telephone
number 118 may be received. The application 114 may be received via
a website 110, and may include a customer telephone number 116 and
a geographical area (406).
[0042] The method 400 may include processing the application 114 to
purchase use of the alias telephone number 118 (408). The
processing may include selecting the alias telephone number 118
from the subset 106 of direct inward dial telephone numbers 102
available for assignment based on the geographical area (410). The
processing may further include assigning the alias telephone number
118 to the customer 112 (412).
[0043] The method 400 may further include receiving a telephone
call from an unknown third party 202 to the alias telephone number
118 and routing the telephone call from the alias telephone number
118 to the customer telephone number 116 (414).
[0044] Implementations of the various techniques described herein
may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer
hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them or any
transmission protocol such as SIP/H323, for example, and via any
wired, wireless, guided, or unguided transmission medium.
Implementations may be implemented as a computer program product,
i.e., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information
carrier, e.g., in a machine-readable storage device or in a
propagated signal, for execution by, or to control the operation
of, a data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor, a
computer, or multiple computers. A computer program implementing
the methods described above may be written in any form of
programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages,
and may be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program
or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for
use in a computing environment. A computer program may be deployed
to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site
or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a
communication network.
[0045] Method steps may be performed by one or more programmable
processors executing a computer program to perform functions by
operating on input data and generating output. Method steps also
may be performed by, and an apparatus may be implemented as,
special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable
gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated
circuit).
[0046] Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program
may include, by way of example, both general and special purpose
microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of
digital computer. Generally, a processor may receive instructions
and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both.
Elements of a computer may include at least one processor for
executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing
instructions and data. Generally, a computer also may include, or
be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or
both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g.,
magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. Information
carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and
data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of
example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and
flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or
removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM
disks. The processor and the memory may be supplemented by, or
incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.
[0047] Implementations may be implemented in a computing system
that includes a back-end component, e.g., as a data server, or that
includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or
that includes a front-end component, e.g., a client computer having
a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user
can interact with an implementation, or any combination of such
back-end, middleware, or front-end components. Components may be
interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication,
e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks
include a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN),
e.g., the Internet.
[0048] While certain features of the described implementations have
been illustrated as described herein, many modifications,
substitutions, changes and equivalents will now occur to those
skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the
appended Claims are intended to cover all such modifications and
changes as fall within the true spirit of the embodiments of the
present disclosure.
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